IF YOU GO

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- ArtPrize 2012 will award $360,000 in prize money determined solely by public vote. This turns everyone from passive observers into active participants. Voting is free and open to anyone 16 years of age or older.

How the public vote works:

Round 1: Opens at 12 noon on Sept. 19 for 11 days to explore ArtPrize and vote for the entries you think should win until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 29.

The Top 10 finalists will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Sept. 30.

Round 2: Opens at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 with 5 days to cast one vote for your favorite among the Top 10 entries until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 4.

How do I vote?

First, register to vote now at artprize.org. If you’re on Facebook, you can sign up from there with a one-click process. With your artprize.org account you can easily search, save and share your favorites among the 1,717 entries in ArtPrize 2012. To get started, click the “collections” tab once you’ve logged in.

ArtPrize’s headquarters – The HUB at 41 Sheldon Blvd. SE – opens with the start of ArtPrize 2012 on Sept. 19. You can register to vote there and visit the ArtPrize store to pick up an event guide, ArtBus wristband and start exploring the 161 venues.

Second, visit an ArtPrize Exhibition Center, The HUB or another voter registration site to activate your vote. You’ll need to present a government-issued photo ID.

New for ArtPrize 2012 is a geo-location opportunity for iPhone and Android smartphone users. Using the free mobile app, you can activate your account on the go. If your phone has built-in GPS, the app will ask automatically if you’d like to activate your account once you enter the ArtPrize district.

Once activated, you can vote three ways:

Online: Visit artprize.org and sign in. Search for the artist, or enter their artist number.